Cigar container



, Feb 3, 1931 W. E. I ILIENFIELD 1,791,417

CIGAR CONTAINER Filed Dec. 10,1930

Patented Feb. 3, 1,931

UNITED s'm'rrsA PATENT Aol-"FIcE WALTER E. LILIENFIELD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, 'ASSIGNOR TO LIIJIENFIELD BROS. 65 COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS CIGAR CONTAINER Application :tiled December 10, 1930. Serial No. 501,270c

The present invention relates generally to sheet metal containers-` More particularlythe invention relates to that type of container which is designed to retain cigars in a vertical or upright position and comprises a cy lindrically4 shaped body-member and a complemental cover for closing the topv portion greater in height than the cigars and as a rel sult completely surrounds or envelops the tips as well as the lower parts of the cigars. Upon receipt of the container from the manufacturer or distributor, the retailer usually removes the cover and then places the cylindri cally shaped body-member in which the cigars are retained either` in or on aidisplay cabinet so that the cigars are readily accessible for retail distribution. In use by the re- \tailer, the container has proved to be. objecthe tip parts and therefore is unable to eX-4 amine the cigars for the purpose of ascertainihg'the'mildness or character of the tobacco without withdrawing them from the bodymember. Secondly, in removing or withdrawingv a cigar from the body-member the contiguous cigars are sometimes broken or damaged by virtue of the fact that the side wall envelops the cigars and permitsof access to only the tip parts.

vThe primary object of the invention is to provide a'cigar container of the type hereunder consideration which obviatesA or disposes of the objections that Vare to be found in connection with previously designed containers by virtue of the fact that the bodymember is so constructed and proportioned that it retains the cigars so the upper parts, as well as the tips thereof are exposed when the cover is removed and it is possible to grasp the sides of the cigars in removing the cigars from the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container of the aforementioned character in which the body-member is equipped with collapsible sheaths for individually retalning the cigars in a vertical or upright position and preventing them from falling over 'after some have been removed'froxn the container.

A further object of the invention is the pro vision of a tubular element which is adapted to surround the cigars in the central portion of the body-member and operates to reinforce the sheaths and prevent collapse of the latter -when the body-member is half or partially empt v A still further object of the invention is to provide a cigar container which is generallyof new and improved construction and may be manufactured at acomparatively low cost.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and 'characteristics of the present container construction will beapparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel n features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly dened by claims -at the conclusion hereof. i

In the drawing v.which accompanies: and forms a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure l is a perspective of a cigar con'- tainer embodying the invention, thecover being-"omitted in order to illustrate the manner in which cigars are retained by the bodymember so that the upper parts thereof are uncovered or exposed and may be readily grasped in removing the cigars from the container;

FigureQ is a vertical section showing in detail the construction of the cover and exhibiting that the cover operates when in its closed position to surround or envelop the upper parts of the cigars and cooperates with the side wall of the body-member to house the cigars completely; and

Figure 3 is a perspective of the tubular element which is disposed 'in the central portion of the body-member and operates to surround some of the cigars in the Container and t0 reinforce the sheaths fer individually supporting the cigars.

The container which forms the subject matter of the invention is designed for the express purpose of retaining a group of cigars 0 having trade-mark bearing bands b extending therearound. It comprises a bodymember 4 which consists of a cylindrical sheet metal side wall 5 and a circular or disk-like sheet metal bottom 6 for closing the lower portion of the container. The side wall 5, together with the bottom 6 forms a chamber 7 in which-the cigars c are adapted to be retained in an upright or vertical position. The bottom end of the side wall is bent outwardly and then upwardly to form an annular flange 8. The bottom 6 forms a supporting surface for the-lower end parts of the cigars and has the marginal part thereof bent upwardly and then inwardly around the annular flange 8 to form an interlocking connection whereby the bottom and side wall are secured rigidly together. The cylindrical side wall 5 is of such height that the top edge thereof terminates adjacent the central or intermediate. parts ofthe cigars and beneath the bands b. As a result of this-arrangement, the upper parts of the cigars, as well as the tips, are exposed.' An advantage of this arrangement is that the-cigars may begrasped at the sides thereof in removing them from the container.- By permitting the cigars to be grasped at the sides, instead of the tips, damage or injury is avoided. A further advantage or characteristic of having the upper parts of the cigars exposed is that a prospective purchaser may readily ascertain the qual# ity and character of the tobacco and may note the brand of the cigars by virtue of the fact that the trade-mark bearing bands b are clearly visible. A

To support the cigars c individually so that they are not likely to fall after a portion of them have been removed from the body-member, sheaths 9 are provided. These sheaths are formed of paper or any other suitable material and are arranged in con centric circular rows in the chamber 7, as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing. They terminate slightly beneath the'top edge of the side wall 5 of the body-member and'encase the lower parts' of the cigars. In order to facilitate insertion of the sheaths into the chamber 7, the sheaths of each circular row are joined together. in place by means of a tubular, element x1()l which. is preferably formed of cardboard so that it is substantially rigid. This element is cylindrical inlconformation and is positioned in the central portion of the chamber 7. It surrounds `the cigars `in the center of the container and reinforces the sheaths so that they do not collapse or move out of place when the body- The sheaths are held 1 The skirt 12 is adapted to telescope annular Hangs 14. The outer marginal part of the top 13 extends downwardly and then upwardly around the iange 14 so as to form an interlock which operates to connect rigidly the top and skirt. The skirt is of such height that when the cover is in its closed position, it surrounds or envelops the upper and tip parts of the cigars and cooperates with the side wall 5 to-house the cigars completely. The bottom edge of the skirt is adapted to rest on an annular bead 15 on the side wall 5 when the cover 'is in its closed position, in order to limit downward movement of the cover relatively tothe body-manner 4 and thereby prevent the top 13 from engaging and crushing the tips of the cigars. The bead 15 is preferably formed by deflecting outwardly the upper end of the side wall 5 and is disposed beneath the top edge of said side wall a sufficient distance to form a relatively large bearing surface for the skirt.

In paclnng or filling the container the cigars c are inserted into the sheaths'9 in the body-member 4 so that they stand in a vertical orupright position and the trade-mark bearing bands b are positioned above the upper or top edge of the side wall 5. After arranging the cigars in this manner, the cover 11 is applied by shifting the cylindrical skirt 12 around the exposed upper parts of the cigars and sliding the same so that the lower edge thereof abuts against the bead 15. When the container is to be used by a retail distributor, the cover 11 is removed and the body-member 4, together with the cigars, is placed in or on a display cabinet. In view of the fact that the upper parts of the cigars are exposed, a prospective purchaser may ascertain the brand of the cigars and note the quality or character of the tobacco without first withdrawing the cigars from the bodymember. When a cigar is to be withdrawn the sides of the selected cigar are grasped without occasioning injury or damage to the contiguous cigars.

The container disclosed herein may be manufactured at a comparatively low cost and is extremely efficient when used to display cigars. If desired, the cigars may be encased in a transparent air-tightwrapper or case so as to prevent them from drying out when lthe cover 'is removed.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the aplos pended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: 1. A container for retaining and displaying in an upright position a group 03E-cigars, comprising a substantially rigid body-member consisting of a bottom and a continuous side Wall, said side wall-forming with the bottom a chamber forthe cigars 'and being of such height and so proportioned that the upper parts of the cigars, as well as the tips, extend thereabove and may be grasped at the sides thereof for removal purposes, means disposed wholly within thecliamber for holding the cigars in place and 4preventing them' from falling to the bottom after some have been removed, and a substantially rigid cover consisting of a top and a skirt depending from the top and adapted, when the cover is in its closed position, to surround the upper parts of the cigars and to cooperate with the bodyqnember and the topto house the cigars completely.

v2. A container for retaining and display-l ing in an upright position a group of cigars having trade-mark bearing bands around the upper partstliereof, comprising a substantially rigid body-member consisting of a bottom and a continuous side Wall, said side Wall forming with the bottom a'chamber for the l cigars andl being of such height and so pro- `the upper parts portioned that it terminates adj acentthe central or intermediate parts of the cigars 'so as to expose the bands and permit the cigars to be grasped at the sides thereof during removal from the chamber, means disposed y wholly within the chamber forming partitions for supporting the cigars individually and holding-them in place, and a substantially rigid cover consisting of a top and a skirt depending from the cover is in its closed position, to surround of the cigars and to cooperate with the body-member and the top to house the cigars completely.

the top and adapted, when cooperate with the body-member and the top to house the cigars completely, and to fit around the upper mar in of the side Wall and abut against the bea so as to prevent the cover from being forced into engagement with the tips of the cigars during application there- -of .to the body-iiienriber.I

4..Acoiitai iier for retaining and displaying in .an uprightposition a group of cigars, comprising a-substantially rig-id body-meniber consisting of a bottom and a continuous side wall', said side wall forming with the bottom achamber for the cigars and being of such height and so proportioned thatthe upper parts of the cigars, as well as the tips, extend thereabove and may begrasped at the sides thereof for removal purposes, collapsible sheaths disposed in the chamber and aris in its closed position, to envelop the upper parts of the cigars and to cooperate with the ody-member and the top to house the cigars completely.` Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 22d day of November, 1930.

WALTER E. LILTENFIELD.

3. A container for retaining and display-5.

position a group of cigars, comprising a substantially'rigid body-member. consisting of acircular bottom and acylindrical sidewall, said side wall having an outwardly extending annular bead beneath its upper edge and forming witlrthebottom a chamber for the cigars and being of such height and so proportioned thatthe upper parts of the cigars, as well as the tips, extend thereaboveand may thereof for removal purposes, means within the chamber v.toriiiin'g' partitions for supporting the cigars individually and holding them in place, and a substantially rigid cover consisting of a circular top and a cylindrical skirt depending from the top and adapted to surround the upper parts of the cigars and be grasped at the sides ICU 

